St. Louis, A Sensational Experience

The Gateway to the West was a city I hadn't yet been to at this point.  However, that changed in April as I got a chance to attend a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium.  Busch Stadium, for those that don't know somehow, is home to the St. Louis Cardinals.  I did some sightseeing however prior to going to Busch Stadium.  I walked downtown St. Louis a bit, saw some cool stores and streets.  Also I went to the Gateway Arch, which I will highlight in a paragraph.  After that, I went to Busch Stadium to see the Cardinals/Diamondbacks game.  All of that I'll showcase as I keep telling the story.
  First was the trip to St. Louis from Peoria, only about a two to two and a half hour drive.  If you have a friend, do take a picture of the skyline at certain points of St. Louis as it is very cool as you drive in.  Racing fans will take notice that Gateway International Raceway is only a few miles out of St. Louis in Madison, Illinois.  Next was to the Gateway Arch.  I parked adjacent to the former football stadium of the St. Louis Rams (picture is right there.)  This facility isn't too far from the Gateway Arch, about three-quarters of a mile away.  A short walk suffices you if you take this walkway.  However, you go across the Jefferson Expansion Park, where the Gateway Arch is.  This place is expansive, with some cool walkways and some cool sight lines of the Mississippi River. 

Former home of St. Louis Rams

Upon entering the Gateway Arch, you go through security.  You can go to the tour shop off to the side to see all the different stuff they have for souvenirs.  There are different things to do while you wait for your turn to go up the Arch.  They have a couple of slideshows you can see, as well as a museum tour.  When it is your turn to ride the tram up to the Arch top, you are put in groups of five or six to go to one of the eight trams to ride.  If you are a tall person, they may make you take the stairs.  To emphasize, if you are claustrophobic of small spaces even for a few minutes, the tram isn't for you.  This is small and you will be cramped.  However, when you get to the top it will be a lot easier to move around.  You get to take pictures out of the windows that they have on either side.  One side will more see different views of the Mississippi, and the other side is different pictures of the city.  Once you are done taking pictures, you can take the tram back down to the entrance.  Now afterward you can take different things around the park, including a riverboat ride.  However, it was breezy cold on this Saturday afternoon (apparently April's in the Midwest are cold.  Who knew eh?)  and I ended up not partaking in this.  I would recommend it if you have more money to spend on this.         

View of St. Louis from the Arch

  Onto Busch Stadium I went.  There are a lot of different parking ramps that you can go to park.  After I found my parking spot, I walked a short distance (okay really it was across the street) to a vendor who had water and soda for two bucks each.  After that, took my ticket into the stadium.  Upon entering the stadium, this is why I mentioned the soda and water.  The one major downside of the stadium is that everything is too highly priced except the ball cap I got.  A meal will be at least 14 dollars.  Soda is 6 dollars a bottle, water runs you about 4.50 a bottle.  In comparison with that vendor outside, I saved 6.50 just on this alone as both were just two dollars a bottle.  On a cold, sort of breezy day in the ball park, hot chocolate was well in order.  Those run you as well 4.50 for this but it is actually very good.  You wouldn't be disappointed with this (plus compare it with whatever you buy with the packaged hot chocolate from the grocer.)  Overall, that aside, the game that encompasses the ballpark is amazing.  There is so much to offer with Busch Stadium.  If you sit behind home plate, it offers a cool skyline of the city in the background.  If you sit in the outfield, you get a fantastic field view.  I sat in bleachers about ten rows up.  On this day, the Cardinals had a bobblehead giveaway.

Busch Stadium

This one I got Lou Brock riding in a car.  This one eventually went to a person at a place my mom works as a gift.  The Cardinals always have a good show but Busch Stadium is beautiful.  There are great places to get pictures all along the park and you won't be disappointed at all.  My one tip is just bring a lot of money, especially if you are a family of three or more.  If I were to rank them upon all the parks I have been to, I would rank Target Field first, GABP in Cincinnati second and Busch Stadium third.
  In final, St. Louis was a really fun experience and Busch Stadium was really a great time.  The Cardinals ended up winning on this cold day.  I ended up leaving a bit early as I was attending a different game back in Peoria on the same day.  However, the Cardinals were in command from the onset and kept it after Jose Martinez hit a homer early.  With that, I hope to come back to St. Louis at some point and enjoy the city more in the future.